Fife AC members get on the run at Lindsays Cross Country

The event looked very different to the usual Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships, with strict Covid protocols, smaller fields, no spectators and invitation only races for seniors.

Despite all the changes, the event was welcomed by the athletics community who have largely been unable to compete since the start of the year.

The challenging course, stunning backdrop of Scone Palace, and high quality fields made for an exciting day of racing and Fife AC athletes were delighted to be part of the action.

One of the club’s performances of the day came from Struan Bennet, who enjoyed a close race with Aberdeen AAC’s Samuel Griffin in the U17 men’s event.

The pair were neck and neck up the final stretch, with Struan narrowly missing out on first place by a mere second.

Reiss Marshall had one of his best ever races, running well to place second in the U15 boys’ race behind Team East Lothian’s Corey Campbell.

There were also strong runs from Isla Thoms, who placed fourth in the U15 girls’ race; Katie Sandilands, who placed eighth in the U15 girls’ race; Jaden Lenny, who placed 12th in the U17 women’s race; and Hayley Brown, who placed 13th in the U17 women’s race.

The action continued across the day with the Fife athletes revelling.

Four Fife AC women – Annabel Simpson, Jenny Selman, Sarah Coutts and Laura Gibson - were selected to run in the senior women’s elite event which was given special permission from the Scottish Government to go ahead.

Annabel Simpson, winner of the Scottish Athletics Invitational 5k at Lochgelly Cycle Park less than a week earlier, was the first Fife AC woman home in 11th.

Finishing closely behind her were Jenny Selman in 13th place.

Sarah Coutts was 15th and Laura Gibson was 22nd.